Bluestem's been hearing grumbling about the plan for a destination golf course in Kandiyohi County's Lake Andrew Township. No the locals are considering taking zoning authority from the county.
At the West Central Tribune, Tom Cherveny reports in Lake Andrew Township considering taking over its own zoning:
Lake Andrew Township’s board of supervisors is holding a public hearing Nov. 7 on the possibility of the township taking over the administration of zoning in place of the county.
It comes in the wake of a vote by the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners to not require the Tepetonka Club to undertake an extensive environmental impact statement for its proposed golf course project along Shakopee Creek. The decision came on a 3-2 vote and was based on the findings of a 156-page environmental assessment worksheet for the project.
The County Board’s action moves the project forward for consideration of a conditional use permit. The Kandiyohi County Planning Commission is holding a hearing Nov. 13 on the permit request.
Township supervisors heard concerns about the proposed private golf course project at their October meeting. Township Chair Jared Swart said there were a fair number of attendees. The supervisors heard from both township residents and outside groups, he told the West Central Tribune .
The chair emphasized that the Nov. 7 hearing is being held to gather input. He is not expecting a decision on creating a township zoning administration to be made that night, but added that he was not certain what might happen at the meeting.
Township supervisor Deborah Nelson told the West Central Tribune that like the chair, she did not feel that she could comment on the concerns expressed at the meeting. She said she felt it was important to have a hearing to get the input of voters.
Planning administration is currently the responsibility of the county, but townships have the legal authority to opt out and manage zoning within their boundaries. . . .
The proposal to build a destination golf course on the approximate 228-acre parcel south of Lake Andrew has faced opposition from some area residents as well as Montevideo-based Clean Up the River Environment . A 376-signature petition by opponents charged that the environmental assessment worksheet for the project doesn’t provide enough information about the potential downstream impacts of the proposed project, according to CURE. . . .
Concerns have been raised by opponents that the use of groundwater by the course for irrigation will serve to pull a plume of chemicals that have seeped from the Kandiyohi County landfill into a shallow aquifer.
Of course, those promoting the project are against the notion of township zoning. Read the rest of the article to learn their rationale.
For more on the run-up to this action, read an earlier West Central Tribune article, Petition seeks environmental impact statement for Tepetonka golf course project.
As for Tuesday night's meeting, here's an explanation of the process of creating township zoning authority, crafted by one of the organizers of the concept and action.
Local Control in Lake Andrew Township uploaded by Sally Jo Sorensen on Scribd
Bluestem hopes there's strong turnout for the meeting on Tuesday, November 7, 7 p.m., at the Lake Andrew Township Hall, 3453 150 Ave NW, New London, Minnesota.
Photo: A creek and juniper trees on the site. Photo credit: CURE.
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